Globe expects more Filipinos to use prepaid data amid looser COVID rules

Globe Telecom is optimistic to record higher prepaid data uptake and mobile revenues this year as the government moves to ease COVID-19 restrictions.

File photo: Globe promos on GCash

Globe welcomes looser COVID restrictions

Beginning yesterday, March 1, the National Capital Region and 38 other areas have been placed under the most relaxed Alert Level 1 until the 15th.

Darius Delgado, head of Globe Consumer Mobile Business, said customer mobilities are a major boost in the consumption of prepaid mobile data packs and promos. People tap mobile data when they travel, socialize, and go out for entertainment, or even in school or at their place of work.

During the lockdowns, we see our prepaid top-ups decline. It's because those who have broadband connections at home offload their usage to broadband, while those whose incomes are affected by the lockdowns control their spending. But then we see recovery as soon as restrictions are lifted. So we expect improvements in the take-up of our prepaid data packs, he said.

With the recent development, Delgado said the group expects its mobile business to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

Globe said its home broadband and corporate data were key drivers in revenue growth, with its consolidated service revenues reaching PHP 151.5 billion last year.

Meanwhile, total data revenues across mobile, broadband, and corporate data accounted for 80 percent of total service revenues.